Gardeners' World is a long-running
BBC televisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
programme about
gardeningGardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
that continues to this day. Its first episode was filmed in 1968, presented by Ken Burras and came from Oxford Botanical Gardens. The magazine
BBC Gardeners' WorldBBC Gardeners' World is a British gardening magazine owned by BBC Worldwide containing tips for gardening from past and current presenters of the television series Gardeners' World. The magazine often has offers on plants, free supplements and giveaways...
is a tie-in to the programme. Most of its episodes have been 30 minutes in length, although there are many specials that last longer. The 2008 and 2009 series used a 60-minute format.
Locations
The show was presented until 2003 from the lead presenter's own garden.
- First was Percy Thrower
Percy John Thrower MBE was a British gardener, horticulturist, broadcaster and writer born at Horwood House in the village of Little Horwood in Buckinghamshire....
's The Magnolias in ShrewsburyShrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
- Then Arthur Billitt
Arthur Billitt is perhaps the least well known of the lead presenters of the long running BBC television programme Gardeners World.He took over from the first presenter Percy Thrower who in 1976 invoked the wrath of the BBC by falling foul of their 'no advertising' policy and was fired for...
's Clack's Farm at OmbersleyThe village of Ombersley is in the Wychavon District Council area of Worcestershire.The first known reference to the village was the granting of a Charter to Abbot Egwin, later Saint Egwin, of Evesham Abbey in 706 AD. This was the Charter of King Æthelweard of the Hwicce, which granted twelve...
in WorcestershireWorcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
- Followed by two gardens, both called Barnsdale, owned by Geoff Hamilton
Geoff Hamilton was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World in the 1980s and 90s.-Background:...
in RutlandRutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
- Next was Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE DL is an English gardener, broadcaster and novelist. After working as a professional gardener and a garden journalist, he established himself as a media personality through appearances on gardening programmes...
's garden at Woodroyd in AltonAlton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
, HampshireHampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, re-named Barleywood for the programme
- Next was a rented garden, called Burmans Farm at Shottery
Shottery is a small village a mile west of Stratford-Upon-Avon; nowadays, it is considered a part of the town, but it retains the feeling of a distinct village.-History and amenities:...
(52°11′29.59"N 1°44′6.4"W) in Stratford Upon Avon which was called Berryfields for the purposes of the programme although it was often described as a 'top secret location near BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
'
- Partly as a result of changes in the presenters; for the 2009 series the garden was relocated to Egbaston in Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. A playing-field was redeveloped and this garden was given the name Greenacre.
- In 2011, with the return of Monty Don
Montagu Denis Wyatt Don is a British television presenter, writer and speaker on horticulture, best known for presenting the BBC television series Gardeners' World.-Early life:...
, the base relocated to Don's own garden Long Meadow in HerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
Critical opinion
As the primary gardening programme on
BBC televisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
, the programme attracts vocal opinion on the merits of the presenters and the content of each episode. The 2009 season introduced several new features, many of which were not well received. Criticism was especially harsh regarding the high cost of certain features such as the hard landscaping and raised-beds and what was widely regarded as the dumbed-down and derivative content. The 'Cool Wall' which mimicked
Top Gear, a competition for training places which aped
The Apprentice, children from
CBeebiesCBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
and content such as a feature on Garden gnomes annoyed many viewers. Much of the widespread criticism was also directed at the fact that the show no longer came from a real garden.
The 2010 show saw public approval change, after alterations to the show's production. The show's length was returned to the original 30 minutes and several features of the 2009 series (such as the '30 minute fix') were axed. The show concentrated more on gardening content, re-introducing 'Jobs for the weekend' and focusing on plant species.
In March 2011, Monty Don returned as the main presenter of the programme.
Lead
Lead presenters have included:
- Ken Burras (1968 – 1969)
- Percy Thrower
Percy John Thrower MBE was a British gardener, horticulturist, broadcaster and writer born at Horwood House in the village of Little Horwood in Buckinghamshire....
(1969 – 1976)
- Arthur Billitt
Arthur Billitt is perhaps the least well known of the lead presenters of the long running BBC television programme Gardeners World.He took over from the first presenter Percy Thrower who in 1976 invoked the wrath of the BBC by falling foul of their 'no advertising' policy and was fired for...
(1976 – 1979)
- Geoff Hamilton
Geoff Hamilton was an English gardener, broadcaster and author, best known as presenter of BBC television's Gardeners' World in the 1980s and 90s.-Background:...
(1979 – 1996)
- Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE DL is an English gardener, broadcaster and novelist. After working as a professional gardener and a garden journalist, he established himself as a media personality through appearances on gardening programmes...
(1996 – 2002)
- Monty Don
Montagu Denis Wyatt Don is a British television presenter, writer and speaker on horticulture, best known for presenting the BBC television series Gardeners' World.-Early life:...
(2003 – 2008)
- Toby Buckland
Toby Neale Buckland is a British gardener, TV presenter and author, best known for being the main presenter from 2008-10 of BBC's long running flagship gardening programme Gardeners' World....
(2008 – 2010)
- Monty Don
Montagu Denis Wyatt Don is a British television presenter, writer and speaker on horticulture, best known for presenting the BBC television series Gardeners' World.-Early life:...
(2011 –)
Assistants
The presenter's assistants have included:
Alys FowlerAlys Fowler was a presenter for a short period on the long-running British TV programme Gardeners' World and lives in Birmingham, England....
,
Chris BainesProfessor Chris Baines is one of the UK's leading independent environmentalists. He is a gardener, naturalist, television presenter and author.Baines grew up in Sheffield...
,
Chris BeardshawChris Beardshaw is an award winning UK gardener who is perhaps best known for his work on the BBC's long running television series Gardeners World. He is formally trained and holds an MA in Landscape Architecture from the University of Gloucestershire...
, Mary Spiller, Liz Rigby,
Diarmuid GavinDiarmuid Gavin is an Irish garden designer and television personality. He is married to Justine Keane, daughter of The Hon. Ronan Keane, the former Chief Justice of Ireland, and Terry Keane, and they have a daughter named Eppie born December 2004.-Early life:When he was six, his younger brother...
,
Clay JonesClay Jones, , was a horticulturist and broadcaster best known as the Chairman of the BBC Radio 4 programme Gardener's Question Time....
,
Stefan BuczackiDr. Stefan T. Buczacki is a British horticulturist, broadcaster and author.After growing up in Duffield, Derbyshire, where he was educated at The Ecclesbourne School, he gained a first-class honours degree in botany at Southampton University, and a D.Phil...
,
Christine WalkdenChristine Helen Walkden is a British television presenter and gardener, best known for her appearances on gardening programmes and The One Show...
,
Sarah RavenSarah Clare Raven is an English gardener, writer and television presenter.She was born in Cambridge, the daughter of John Earle Raven Sarah Clare Raven (born 1963) is an English gardener, writer and television presenter.She was born in Cambridge, the daughter of John Earle Raven Sarah Clare...
,
Gay SearchGay Search is a British television presenter perhaps best known for her work on the BBC TV series Gardeners' World with the late Geoff Hamilton...
,
Anne SwithinbankAnne Swithinbank is a trained horticulturist, freelance gardening broadcaster and writer. She trained at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Gardens and was Glasshouse Supervisor at the Royal Hortcultural Society's garden at Wisley, Surrey.She is known for being a regular panellist on Gardeners'...
,
Nigel ColbornNigel Colborn is a British TV presenter and gardening expert/writer. He is a former presenter of the long running BBC Gardeners World. He is often a panelist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time and is a regular presenter of Granada TV’s Gorgeous Gardens....
,
Geoffrey SmithGeoffrey Denis Smith was a professional gardener, broadcaster, writer and lecturer. He was the presenter of Gardeners World from 1980 to 1982 and a number of other BBC series in the early 80s including Geoffrey Smith's World of Flowers, Mr Smith’s Flower Garden, Mr Smith's Favourite Garden and Mr...
,
Roy LancasterRoy Lancaster, OBE is a British gardener and broadcaster.Charles Roy Lancaster was born in Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire and best known for his work on the long running BBC TV programme, Gardeners' World...
,
Peter SeabrookPeter Seabrook is a British gardening writer and television broadcaster. He is well known for his work on the long running BBC gardening programme, Gardeners' World.He is currently the gardening correspondent of The Sun.-External links:*]]....
,
Joe SwiftJoe Swift is an English garden designer, journalist and television personality.-Television career:Swift is a regular presenter and designer on the BBC's Gardeners' World, co-presenter on the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners' World Live, Hampton Court, RHS Tatton Park...
, Ali Ward,
Pippa GreenwoodPippa Greenwood is a British plant pathologist. She appears frequently on the BBC's long running Gardeners World television programme and has been a regular panelist on Gardeners' Question Time on BBC Radio 4 since 1994....
,
Rachel De ThameRachel De Thame is an English gardener and television presenter.-Biography:From age 10, De Thame studied ballet to a professional standard at the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, Richmond Park. De Thame contracted glandular fever at age 15, and eventually chose to give up her dream of a dancing...
,
Carol KleinCarol Klein is a British gardening expert, who also works as a television presenter and newspaper columnist.Born in Walkden, Salford, Lancashire, in 1945, Carol attended Bolton School and then trained as an art teacher and taught in schools in the London area before moving to Devon...
,
Bob FlowerdewBob Flowerdew is an organic gardener, and television and radio presenter. He is a regular panel member of BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time. He has nearly an acre of garden in Dickleburgh, Norfolk, England, where he lives with his wife, Vonetta, a care worker, and their twins, Italia and...
. & John Kelly
Theme Tunes
The very first theme tune to the series in 1968 was a piece composed by Peter Craddy and played by Michael Saxton on
clarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
. A year later this was replaced by the long running
Green Fingers composed by John Clarke and Reg Reid, played by Harold Rich & His Players, a version of which, with sweeping strings, was soon used. The most famous theme that had the longest run from the late 1980s, through the 1990s and still heard in a slightly classical vein today is the lovely haunting guitar piece which was composed by
Nick WebbNick Webb may refer to:* Nick Webb , book publisher and author* Nick Webb , British musician and founder of Acoustic Alchemy* Nick Webb , American professional soccer player...
and
Greg CarmichaelGreg Carmichael , is a long standing member of contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy. His primary instrument is the nylon string acoustic guitar....
. It had two titles, one for commercial release and one for library,
Morning Light and
Natural Elements.
Natural Elements was the title track of a commercial album released in 1988 on
MCA recordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
under the composers' band name of
Acoustic AlchemyAcoustic Alchemy is an English contemporary instrumental and smooth jazz band formed in England in the early 1980s , originally fronted by acoustic guitarists Nick Webb and Simon James...
. For Gardeners' World - 2011/2012 the theme tune is from 2005 Sufjan Stevens Illinoise albume.
Links and spin offs
The former lead presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, teamed up with
Charlie DimmockCharlie Dimmock is an English gardening expert and TV presenter. She was one of the team on Ground Force, a BBC gardening makeover programme.-Early years:...
and
Tommy WalshTommy Walsh is an English celebrity builder. His parents were Irish, his father from Kilkenny and his mother from Sligo. He attended Parmiter's School, then in Bethnal Green....
to make the series
Ground ForceGround Force was a British garden makeover television series originally broadcast by the BBC between 1997 and 2005. The series was originally hosted by Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh and was produced by Endemol for the BBC.-Production:...
. This was about rapid garden makeovers.
A book based on the history of the series entitled
Gardeners' World Through The Years was released in 2003 by
Gay SearchGay Search is a British television presenter perhaps best known for her work on the BBC TV series Gardeners' World with the late Geoff Hamilton...
.
BBC Gardeners' World Live
The BBC
Gardeners' World LiveBBC Gardeners' World Live is a major 5 day gardening related consumer show held each June at the Birmingham NEC, co-located with the BBC Good Food Show Summer...
Show is an extension of the television programme and magazine. Running annually in June, it is hosted at the Birmingham NEC, co-located with the BBC Summer Good Food Show.